Backstage antics drive farce of 'Noises Off!'

Thursday

Jan 5, 2017 at 9:40 AMJan 5, 2017 at 9:41 AM

TONY SIMMONS News Herald Writer @PCNHTonyS

PANAMA CITY — The comedy of "Noises Off!," opening Friday at the Martin Theatre, grew from the antics so often found behind the scenes of a play. The title comes from a bit of common stage direction, which indicates sound effects heard from off-stage.

"It's probably the funniest show I've ever experienced," said Barbara McMinis, who is directing the show as part of the Martin Ensemble Theatre series in addition to playing a role onstage. "It's also one of the most difficult pieces of theatre you could ever attempt to do."

Originally produced in London in 1982, "Noises Off!" was inspired when playwright Michael Frayne was watching another of his plays from backstage and was struck by the idea that what was going on in the wings was funnier than what was happening in front of the curtain. The play presents a manic menagerie as a cast of itinerant actors rehearse a flop called "Nothing's On," a sort of play-within-the-play. Thus, many of the performers shoulder two roles.

"Act One is dress-rehearsal night of a 12-week tour," McMinis said. "For Act Two, the entire set turns to show you what's going on backstage during the show. Then Act Three turns the set again for the final performance of the play."

The Martin has presented "Noises Off!" once before, in 1998, and Kaleidoscope Theatre has produced it twice, McMinis said. She said it's a perennial favorite because it's so unique and hilarious — as well as family-friendly "to a point."

"Word of mouth really sells it," she said. "It's hard to describe it. I say just come out and have a laugh after the whole Christmas and New Year's debacle. It's time to relax."

Opening weekend performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6 and 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8. The audience is invited to meet the cast and crew at the opening night gala after the curtain on Friday. The closing weekend shows will be 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12-14, Thursday-Saturday.

Tickets are $7.50 to $17.50, depending on seating. On Sunday and Thursday, Jan. 8 and 12, the first 100 patrons can buy one adult ticket and get one free.

For more information, call the box office at 850-763-5080 or stop by the theatre at 409 Harrison Ave., Panama City, during business hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Martin Ensemble series for 2016-17 opened with the world premiere of "Minnie: Beneath the Hat" on Sept. 16. "Vintage Hitchcock," a thriller in the style of an old-time radio play, followed in October. The Ensemble Series will conclude its season in April with a presentation of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: The Musical."

The ensemble is a group of local actors and volunteer crew that originally formed in 1993 with a goal of presenting a variety of stage plays, musicals and cultural events to Panama City. Some of the actors in "Noises Off!" have never performed on the Martin's stage before.